Hepatic mesenchymal hamartoma is a rare hepatic tumour seen in the paediatric population. Although this entity has a variable imaging appearance, it has a favourable prognosis if diagnosed and managed correctly. This case presents the ultrasound and computed tomography findings of an 11-month-old patient who presented with a history of progressive abdominal distension and an elevated alfa fetoprotein level on biochemistry. The case describes how a confident perioperative diagnosis could be made on the basis of characteristic imaging features.Spontaneous or self-induced pneumoparotid, which usually manifests as acute unilateral gland enlargement, is caused by insufflation of air from the oral cavity via Stensen's duct. A 9-year-old patient, with known Down's syndrome, presented with a progressively enlarging, painless, spontaneous, left neck mass. Computed tomography showed features consistent with pneumoparotid, without underlying associated pathology. Identification of true cases of spontaneous pneumoparotid is crucial, as these require a holistic management approach to prevent recurrence and complications.Involvement of the cervical spine is common in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and can lead to devastating or even fatal consequences. Currently no guidelines exist as to whether radiographs of the cervical spine should be included in follow-up visits.
To determine whether the Simple Erosion Narrowing Score (SENS) of the hands correlate with the presence of cervical spine subluxation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
This was a retrospective, observational, cross-sectional study. A total of 56 rheumatoid arthritis patients with hand radiographs and lateral radiographs of the cervical spine were evaluated. The SENS of the hands and the presence of cervical spine subluxation were compared. The SENS of the hands was correlated with the prevalence of cervical spine subluxation, as was the erosion and joint space narrowing scores of the hands.
A correlation between the SENS of the hands and the prevalence of cervical spine subluxation was confirmed. A higher prevalence of cervical spine subluxation correlated with an increase in the SENS of the hands (= 0.0002). The erosion and joint space narrowing scores of the hands also correlated with the prevalence of cervical spine subluxation (= 0.0001).
This study confirmed that a correlation exists between cervical spine subluxation, peripheral joint space erosions and joint space narrowing in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and SENS may therefore be used as a predictor of cervical spine disease.
This study confirmed that a correlation exists between cervical spine subluxation, peripheral joint space erosions and joint space narrowing in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and SENS may therefore be used as a predictor of cervical spine disease.During magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP), the pancreatobiliary ducts can be obscured by the high-intensity signal from the stomach and duodenum. Pineapple juice may be an alternative to commercially available negative contrast agents, but has not been evaluated locally.
To evaluate the efficacy of a local, off-the-shelf pineapple juice preparation as a negative oral contrast agent for MRCP.
An observational, analytical study was conducted during January-December 2017. A 1.5 Tesla MRCP sequence was performed immediately before and after ingestion of 250 mL of a local, commercially-available pineapple juice preparation. Image evaluation was performed by two radiologists with independent, blind assessment of gastric/duodenal signal intensity and biliary /pancreatic duct visibility, before and after pineapple juice.
Fifty adult patients (F = 44, 88%) with median age 44 years (IQR 34.75, 57) were included. After pineapple juice administration, there was significant measured (1661.51 vs. 1409.94, &lt; 0.01) and perceived (2.16 vs. 2.72, &lt; 0.01) duodenal signal reduction but no significant change in measured (1081.17 vs. 1044.38, = 0.34) or perceived (2.73 vs. 2.84, = 0.14) gastric signal intensity. Visibility of the common bile duct was significantly improved (3.67 vs. 3.86, &lt; 0.01), whilst that of the main pancreatic duct showed no significant change (2.92 vs. 2.86, = 0.44).
The local pineapple juice preparation used in this study is an effective, affordable and natural negative oral contrast agent for enhancement of MRCP images, and specifically improves visualisation of the common bile duct.
The local pineapple juice preparation used in this study is an effective, affordable and natural negative oral contrast agent for enhancement of MRCP images, and specifically improves visualisation of the common bile duct.According to the South African Health Professions Act No. 56 of 1974, specific skills outcomes of MBChB programmes are that a medical graduate must be able to utilise diagnostic aids, interpret findings and make diagnoses. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/sodium-hydroxide.html Imaging techniques are an integral part of the numerous diagnostic and therapeutic aids used in contemporary medical practice; however, in South Africa, no formal directives exist to guide programme directors or nuclear medicine departments regarding an appropriate undergraduate nuclear medicine educational module. As of 2013, six South African schools of medicine are involved in undergraduate nuclear medicine teaching, in which it forms part of clinical modules taught at varying stages in the academic curriculum. Against this backdrop is the inequitable distribution of nuclear medicine resources, training facilities and staffing in the local state health sector. Inadequate undergraduate teaching and provincial differences in nuclear medicine service provision suggest that many clinicians and graduating medical students are unaware of how radionuclide techniques can facilitate patient management. This high level of imaging illiteracy has been associated with lack of patient referral, poor quality and inadequate referral, poor knowledge of radiation doses and poor awareness of radiation risks. Here we highlight the challenges of undergraduate nuclear medicine teaching in South Africa, emphasising the need for the implementation of guidelines for undergraduate nuclear medicine education. Employing nationally accepted guidelines for undergraduate nuclear medicine teaching in South African MBChB programmes will contribute to the effective utilisation of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging as a diagnostic and therapeutic modality by newly qualified medical practitioners.